Elsely Cool Middaugh

Elsely (Elsa) Margaret Cool Middaugh, I have to laugh out loud to myself, some of the journeys I’m taken on with a Tomb Stone Tuesday. Elsely that’s the variant I’m going to use because that’s what’s on her gravestone. She was born 9 Jan 1807 in Luzerne Co., Pa. Her parents John C. (1783-1850) and Margaret Decker (1786-?)Cool. Her Parents were natives of New Jersey and moved to Rohrsburg, Pa. A carpenter, farmer and vendue crier (auctioneer). John and Margaret have 10 children. Elsely, William, Elizabeth, Catharine, Abram, Jacob, Andrew, Eleanor, Sarah & John.

Elsely marries David Middaugh in Luzerne Co., Pa. in 1826. They have children; Albert Brodhead, Margaret Jane, John C., Eliza Ann, and Mary Elsely, David makes a living at farming and as a shoemaker. David died on 14 Jan 1839. Elsely is 5 months pregnant with their son David. Elsely moves back to Pike County Pa, either before or after David Jr. is born in April 1839. David dies in July and is buried in the Broadhead Cemetery, Lehman Township, Pike County, Pa. Elsely dies 14 March 1842 and is buried next to her daughter Mary Elsely who dies a few days after her mother 17 March 1842. I have no information as to what happened to her or her daughter, the cause of death. The number of diseases in rural Pa in 1842 are numerous. It could have been a simple cold.

This was about Elsely but this is an interesting note on her husband David Middaugh. He has a long family line in the U.S. the spelling variations of this family name include: Middle, Middel, Midel, Mittel, Mittle, Middleho, Midelho, Mideleho, Middlehough, Midler, Middler, Midlar . In the Dutch Reformed church record, I see it as Meddag. David is the son of Levi (1776-1816) and Elsie Vangorden (1775-1855). They marry in 1794 and have 5 children; David, Maria, Jane, Eleanor, and William. Levi received land for payment for his army service in Illinois. I don’t know what becomes of the land they never live on it.. David and Elsely son John lives in Nebraska on a big farm, I haven’t done research to see if he went to Illinois first. Or maybe one of the other brothers or sisters. Elsie divorces Levi 31 March 1812 for cruel and inhumane treatment. This was obtained in Philadelphia, Pa. From the papers I read, Levi was physically assaulting her and would not leave her alone and keeps coming back to do it again. You never really think of stalkers in the 1800s but they existed even then.

Levi dies Long island NY and Elsie marries again to Moses VanGorden (1752-1838).

So she is Elsie Vangorden Middaugh Vangorden. They are both buried at the Broadhead cemetery. I would have loved to met Elsie Vangorden.

Does anyone know the Broadhead family connection? I also wanted to point out, I took these photos in 2017, just randomly took them of a cemetery that is unmaintained. So happy i could tell you their story

Moses Vangorden

Mary Alice d/o David and Elsely

David s/o David and Elsie

Death cert. Margaret Jane d/o David and Elsely